MATTAWA - A stalled car led to the death of a Mattawa couple last Wednesday night when their vehicle was struck by a truck and trailer at the western gate to Hanford.

The deceased are Claudio S. Nieves, 32, and Lizania Nieves Davila, 30, husband and wife, of rural Mattawa. Mrs. Nieves Davila was the driver of a 2010 Ford Focus 4-door. Mr. Nieves was a passenger.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the collision occurred at around 10:30 p.m. Mattawa Police Cpl. Tonya Valdivia and MPD interpreter Alma Caro helped WSP Sgt. P. Cozzitorto inform the Nieves family, near the east end of the Wahluke Slope, at about midnight.

The Nieveses were eastbound on Highway 24, stopped at the intersection with Highway 240, the State Patrol said. Mrs. Nieves started to move the car, and it stopped and then became disabled in the intersection.

The Nieves car was then struck by a 2004 Volvo semi-truck and trailer, driven by Anatoly Shabak, 25, of Kennewick, southbound on 240. The truck sustained reportable damage and was towed. The Nieves car was totaled.

According to the WSP, the Nieves couple died at the scene. Shabak was uninjured. All three were using their seatbelts, the WSP said.

It was uncertain Thursday, the WSP said, whether drugs or alcohol were involved. The cause and possible charges were still under investigation, the WSP said.